James nced at his watch. "I gotta go. You should head inside."


    Mirabe nodded and watched him get into the car parked by the curb. Only after he drove off did she turn back towards the restaurant.


    Just then, the Song family''s estate manager arrived at the restaurant''s entrance.


    The entrance had a revolving door, and Mirabe, lost in thought, didn''t notice her surroundings. She walked ahead, nearly bumping into the estate manager.


    The manager frowned at the young woman''sck of manners, his expression clearly displeased.


    Mirabe looked up, lips parting as if to apologize, but seeing his stern face, she simply withdrew her gaze and continued into the restaurant.


    Rude, she thought to herself.


    The estate manager, trying to keep his temper in check, dusted off his sleeves as if brushing away some invisible dirt, then straightened his back and followed her inside.


    *


    As soon as Mirabe returned to the banquet hall, Delh spotted her and waved her over. Mirabe pressed a hand to her forehead and walked towards her.


    "Where''s James? Didn''t he juste by?" Delh asked, puzzled, looking past Mirabe.


    "He had to rush back to the city for something urgent. Dropped off the gift and left," Mirabe exined briefly.


    "Oh, okay," Delh replied, a bit disappointed but quickly remembering the numerous guests attending today. "Well, it''s probably for the best that he left early."


    Then, grabbing her daughter''s hand, Delh said, "Come on, let me introduce you to a few more of Uncle Marian''s friends..." She stopped mid-sentence as her gazended on the approaching estate manager.


    Mirabe, who had been looking down, noticed Delh''s sudden silence and looked up in confusion.


    By then, Delh had regained herposure and blocked her daughter''s view. "I just remembered, I left my phone in my bag. Can you ask your dad where he put it and fetch it for me?"


    Catching the odd look on Delh''s face, Mirabe hesitated for a second before nodding and heading towards Shawn.


    Delh watched her daughter walk away and then let out a sigh of relief.


    She approached the estate manager, her meticulously made-up face showing no emotion.


    "Miss, long time no see," the estate manager greeted Delh courteously, his gaze briefly following the departing Mirabe.


    Delh''s demeanor was cool and distant. "There''s no need to call me ''miss.'' I have no ties to the Song family anymore."


    After a brief pause, not wanting to engage in a lengthy conversation with the estate manager, she said directly, "Please tell Kitty I will not be returning to the Song family. Tell her to stop calling me and to stop looking for me."


    Hearing Delh''s definitive statement, the estate manager''s face stiffened for a moment. After a while, he spoke again, "But... Miss Kitty is outside waiting for you."


    Delh''s lips curled slightly, her voice growing impatient, "I said no."


    "The Song family is still your maternal home. Are you really going to be so heartless? Don''t you think about your husband''s family, your children''s futures?" The estate manager stood tall, his tone light.


    Delh couldn''t help butugh lightly, shaking her head. "Ignorance is bliss, huh? Save that talk for others, not me."


    The manager''s brow furrowed further.